Individuals' triglyceride levels are a part of their overall cholesterol levels. Low readings are indicative of good levels, and a normal, acceptable reading is less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) of blood. Measured by a fasting lipoprotein profile, triglyceride levels are a part of determining a person's cholesterol and whether he or she is at added risk of heart disease.
A triglyceride measurement tells how much fat is in the blood. Fats consumed are digested and broken down by the body, and triglycerides are the final result of the process. These triglycerides are packaged together into larger globules, and they are then transported through the blood to different parts of the body where they are stored as reserve energy. Individuals' triglyceride levels are a part of their overall cholesterol levels.
Borderline high triglyceride levels are between 150 and 199 mg/dl. Checked alongside good and bad cholesterol, they are largely a reflection of lifestyle choices. Factors such as a poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, drinking, and obesity can all raise the amount of triglyceride in a person's body.
Good triglyceride levels lower an individual's risk of heart disease and diabetes. They also parallel levels of good cholesterol and bad cholesterol found in individuals. Since triglyceride levels go hand in hand with other numbers, it is debated how much impact triglycerides on their own have on a person's overall health. At the very least, high levels are a flag that there are lifestyle choices that need to be made.
In order to get levels back down to normal, health professionals may suggest weight loss, a change in diet, quitting tobacco, adding physical activity to the daily schedule, and limiting alcohol intake. Medications can also be prescribed to aid in the lowering of triglycerides, but this is typically in extreme conditions. For most people, maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle is enough to keep good triglyceride levels. This includes at least 30 minutes of physical exercise, a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meat, fish, and poultry while low in saturated and trans fats. Maintaining good triglyceride levels involves a healthy lifestyle that helps keep the rest of the body healthy as well.
